Real Madrid have had an eventful 2024.
It was the year Toni Kroos retired and Kylian Mbappe finally arrived. Carlo Ancelotti’s team lifted their 15th European Cup/Champions League, their 36th La Liga title, the Supercopa de Espana and the Intercontinental Cup — but also suffered a spate of injuries that have contributed to five losses this season, more than in the whole of the last campaign (two).
Advertisement
However, Real Madrid fans will fondly remember a year in which they were once again crowned kings of Europe. His 3-0 victory in the Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican side Pachuca made Ancelotti the most successful coach in Madrid’s history with 15 titles, surpassing the legendary Miguel Muñoz.
Here, Real Madrid correspondent Guillermo Rai reviews Madrid’s 2024.
If Real Madrid visit Cibeles Fountain in the city centre, named after the Roman goddess of fertility Cybele, it means good news — or, in other words, a title has been won.
This year Madrid brought her the title in mid-May after initially receiving the trophy behind closed doors. Two weeks later, they were back with the Champions League.
Nobody got tired of celebrating and these were the happiest moments for Madrid fans. Many teams have climbed on the statue to celebrate titles, but these ones were special for how unexpected they were. Madrid lost goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and first-choice centre-back partnership Eder Militao and David Alaba to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injuries over the season but still triumphed.
Moments shared with retiring Kroos, departing captain Nacho and hero Joselu, as well as new stars such as Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler, made those celebrations even more special.
GO DEEPER
Real Madrid Champions League party: speeches, cigars, Carvajal’s father on horseback
Only one title escaped Madrid last season: the Copa del Rey.
Their elimination against their rival Atlético in the round of 16 is the only stain on a practically better campaign on the field of play. Madrid lost 4-2 in a competitive match that went to extra time at the Metropolitan Stadium, as the fatigue accumulated during the season took its toll.
But there was no more embarrassing defeat than the 4-0 loss to Barcelona at the revamped Bernabeu in October. Summer signing Mbappe was caught offside eight times, Hansi Flick’s Barca team ran riot and Madrid’s arch-rivals went six points clear at the top of the table. Madrid have since clawed back that deficit and sit second, a point behind Atletico and two clear of the Catalans, with a game in hand on them, but it was a night to forget for their fans.
The club was also exasperated that Vinicius Junior was left without the Ballon d’Or in favour of Manchester City midfielder Rodri. No one at Real Madrid expected to see the Spaniard win his trophy after finding out that Vinicius Jr would not be the winner, even though they won the Men’s Club of the Year and Ancelotti was named Men’s Coach of the Year.
GO DEEPER
How Vinicius Junior overlooked for the Ballon d’Or – and the anger it sparked at Real Madrid
It was not the most beautiful match, but it was the most important: Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley in June and became European champions again.
Ancelotti’s team struggled in the first half, but recovered late in the second, with goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr. It wasn’t as dramatic as their quarter-final and semi-final wins over Manchester City and Bayern Munich, but it capped the offseason. , in which they have made returns a blessed custom.
Advertisement
It may sound obvious given this month he finished Ballon d’Or runner-up and was awarded FIFA’s The Best award this month, but Vinicius Jr has been Madrid’s standout player.
The Brazilian was not so outstanding at the beginning of last season after suffering two muscle injuries. This coincided with Bellingham starting a scoring streak in his first season and becoming another leader in attack.
But Vinicius Jr has tipped the scales for Madrid all around the year with his aims and assists. He was the team’s most sensible scorer with 24 aims last season – adding a hat-trick in the Super Cup ultimate opposed to Barcelona and two in the Champions League quarter-ultimate first leg opposed to Bayern – and provided 11 assists all competitions combined.
His influence transcends his goalscoring output, which is why he remained the team’s main star in attack, even after the arrival of Mbappé. The Frenchman has yet to fully identify himself after a combined start to his career in Madrid.
Until this year, there was a record 58 years in the Champions League, with Madrid legend Paco Gento being the player to win six European Cup finals.
That was replaced by Madrid’s victory at Wembley, Carvajal and veteran Luka Modric equalled Gento (defined by having played in and won a European Cup final).
Carvajal is out for the season, so will have no chance of beating that record on May 31 2025 if Madrid are able to overcome their shaky form in the Champions League to make the final at the Allianz Arena in Munich, but Modric could still do it after becoming the oldest player in Madrid’s history in October.
“In many years of my career, only one year has been easy, and that was last year.”
That is how Carlo Ancelotti summed up the 2023-24 season in November — quite the statement from the 65-year-old Italian, who has managed sides full of stars including Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern.
Advertisement
It’s also unexpected given that Madrid had to suffer in several events last season, with three ACL injuries threatening to derail their progress. But Ancelotti and the team adapted without problems to these disorders without signing any substitutes in January.
The quote also stands in stark contrast to the way Madrid started this season, struggling to get Mbappé to perform at his best and with injuries piling up again. Who knows how Ancelotti will finish in 2024-25?
This segment may only fear one player: Joselu.
The one-time Madrid reserve striker — and ex-Stoke City and Newcastle United player — returned to the Spanish capital after 12 years in summer 2023 with a view to being a supporting actor. He ended up being much more than that.
With Madrid losing 1-0 in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern and on the brink of elimination, Joselu miraculously appeared. He came on in the 81st minute; Then, from the 88th to the 91st minute, the substitute striker scored two goals against the protagonist of another epic evening at the Bernabéu.
Having lifted a La Liga-Champions League double with his boyhood club, Joselu left for Qatari side Al Gharafa this summer. Job done.
GO DEEPER
Farewell Joselu, a Real Madrid fan who got to live out his dreams
Ancelotti is not known for promoting young players to the first team, but there are some names worth following in 2025.
One of them is Joan Martinez, the 17-year-old centre-back who excelled on the preseason tour of the United States but then ruptured his ACL in his left knee. He is recovering but has signed a new deal until 2027 as reward for his potential.
Chema Rodríguez is another promising player who has not yet made his senior debut. The 19-year-old defensive midfielder is technically and physically strong and thanks to the club he will have a different profile than the first team players in his position.
Advertisement
Chema continues to live in the facilities of the Madrid academy, which shows the progressive technique they are taking with them, but he could not have made a greater impression in the scenes.
Less injuries.
When The Athletic published an article about the internal tensions at Madrid in November, we estimated that they had suffered at least 25 injuries so far this season. With so many players absent or ill, we were unable to take advantage of the full perspective of their stars.
GO DEEPER
Internal tensions at Real Madrid: 25 injuries, considerations on career statistics and Pintus that divides
Who knows? He even took us to see the most productive edition of the attacking trio formed by Bellingham, Mbappé and Vinicius Jr.
(Top image: Bellingham wins Champions League trophy in June; via Julian Finney – UEFA/UEFA Getty Images)
Guillermo began his career covering Real Madrid and the sports industry for Diario AS. He then moved to London and has become a correspondent for AS and Cadena Ser. He has since returned to Madrid and joins us at The Athletic where he will give information. , interviews, stories and much more about Real Madrid.